PENZ Awards
The PENZ Awards celebrate excellence, innovation, and leadership across physical education in Aotearoa, recognising the educators, leaders, teams, and organisations that inspire and make a difference.
Awards are presented every second year. The next round is in 2027, with nominations opening on 1 September 2026.
Key dates for the 2027 Awards
Do you know someone making an outstanding contribution to physical education? Whether they're leading innovative programmes, advocating for equity and inclusivity, or supporting the next generation of learners, this is your chance to honour their achievements.
We're taking the awards on the road in 2027. The Sir Alexander Gillies Medal, PENZ Life Membership, and Fellow of PENZ will be presented at Conference in Wellington, 5–7 July 2027. All other awards will be presented at each recipient's school, organisation, or place of work, so their whole community can share in the celebration.
The awards
Click through to any award to read its criteria and complete the nomination form.
The most prestigious honour PENZ can confer, awarded rarely for distinguished and outstanding services of national or international significance to the profession. Sustained, career-long service which adds to the prestige of the award is the expectation.
Award criteria and nominationConferred on members who have given long and distinguished service in the cause of physical education. The honour is given sparingly, and in general only when the service rendered has been nationwide and outstanding in nature.
Award criteria and nominationRecognises and honours PENZ members who have made sustained and significant contributions to PENZ and the physical education profession. Designation as a Fellow is an honorary recognition and confers no other specific responsibility.
Award criteria and nominationRecognises a tertiary student preparing to enter the profession who has shown significant promise and commitment to furthering their knowledge of physical education.
Award criteria and nominationRecognises a teacher in their first five years of teaching who demonstrates a passion for, and has made a notable contribution to, the physical education of tamariki and rangatahi.
Award criteria and nominationRecognises a teacher who has been teaching for more than five years and has made a significant contribution to the physical education of tamariki and rangatahi.
Award criteria and nominationRecognises a group, team, syndicate, department, or school's excellence in physical education curriculum delivery.
Award criteria and nominationMade by the PENZ Board for contributions to the profession that may be slightly leftfield, because at times they will be removed from the day-to-day work of physical education.
Award criteria and nominationAcknowledges Māori PE educators who demonstrate a spark of innovation, the flash of creativity, and a flare for making change.
Award criteria and nominationAcknowledges individuals or organisations furthering the incorporation of mātauranga Māori within a physical education context.
Award criteria and nominationAcknowledges communities embracing their world of movement through a partnership designed to support quality physical education experiences in their communities.
Award criteria and nominationCelebrates an individual or organisation in the community who has significantly contributed to the promotion and facilitation of quality physical education experiences.
Award criteria and nominationRecognises an individual who has contributed a significant number of years to the delivery of quality physical education, in or out of the classroom.
Award criteria and nominationRecognises groundbreaking research or innovations that have positively influenced PE teaching and learning.
Award criteria and nomination
Frequently asked questions
Who can nominate?
PENZ members can nominate people for some of these awards, while other awards are open to anyone to submit nominations. Check the individual award pages for details.
What is the process?
- The PENZ Awards are held biennially, with the next round in 2027.
- Nominations open on 1 September 2026 and close on 1 March 2027.
- The awards are decided by a judging panel composed of members of the PENZ Board and other stakeholders from within the physical education community.
- Recipients will be notified on 1 May 2027.
- The Sir Alexander Gillies Medal, PENZ Life Membership, and Fellow of PENZ will be presented at Conference in Wellington, 5–7 July 2027.
- All other awards will be presented at the recipient's school, organisation, or place of work during 2027; we're taking the awards on the road.
How do I nominate someone?
Click on the award you're interested in and read the award criteria. Then complete the nomination form for that award; a link to each form can be found on each award page. You won't be able to submit the form unless all mandatory fields have been completed.
What are the criteria?
Each award has different criteria. Explore the awards you're interested in above to find out more.
Honouring those who came before
The PENZ Awards carry the legacy of nearly ninety years of recognition, from the first honorary Fellows in 1937 to today. Explore the full record of recipients across every award.
View prior award winners